Putin said Russia would supply its partners with low-cost weapons and military training in order to ensure regional security (file photo) (epa)
30 November 2005 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today called upon members of a regional military grouping to join efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime.

Putin made the plea at a Moscow meeting of the defense and foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB), a regional organization that is made up of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

"We can only fight these threats and challenges effectively if we join efforts. And this is true especially regarding our countries -- among which, in fact, there are no boundaries, among which there is not only free movement of goods and money, but also of people," Putin said.

"This is especially important for us because, in fact, we have a joint energy supply system, a joint transportation system. All this also creates particularly favorable conditions for criminal elements. But all this gives us special opportunities to counter these threats," he added.

Putin said that in order to ensure regional security, Russia would supply other ODKB country members with low-priced weapons and train their military personnel.